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The background shows sidewalk tiles - "rajoles" - that pave the sidewalks throughout Barcelona. They were designed by architect Puig i Cadafalch for the entryway of a home. Since 1915, they have been used by the city to pave sidewalks, and have become emblematic of the city. One of the city's most famous chocolatiers, Enric Rovira, produces chocolate bars in the shape and design of these tiles.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Last Zone Conferences

Bilbao. Palma. Lleida. Barcelona. It was a whirlwind week of saying farewell to so many wonderful missionaries and friends. We have felt a little bit like parents sending our children off to college: have we taught them everything they need to know? That became the theme of these conferences: what we want to make sure you know.

They were wonderful conferences. After each conference we shook hands and gave abrazos to each missionary. Some we will see when they return home, but some we may never see again in this life. That's why Facebook is worth $100 billion!

Vitoria Zone in Bilbao

Baleares Zone in Palma

Lleida Zone

Barcelona Zone

Hospitalet Zone in Barcelona

As a reminder that our mission isn't over yet, we did have a couple of unexpected issues arise during the week, including a residency issue which required a quick transfer in order to keep a missionary in the country, so we haven't had much time to think about going home!

5 comments:

Our daughter will be leaving for the Spain Barcelona mission in September. We would love to attend Pres. and Sister Hinckley's homecoming. Can anyone tell me when and were it will be? We live in the SLC, Utah area. Thanks

Our sincerest thanks & gratitude to Pte. & Hna Hinckley for all that you have taught our sons & daughters. Your service to the missionaries, mission & people of Spain is greatly appreciated. Now go & enjoy your other family. Well done.

I love your blog. We have read it while our daughter was serving there with you and have continued on even though she is home. Thank you for all you do/have done for the missionaries. I know you have greatly blessed the life of my daughter.(Hermana Roberts)

I served in Barcelona oh so many years ago - '90-'91 - and I have loved reading how things have changed and grown in Spain. My first area was Llerida and there were 4 of us at the time; one set of Elders and one set of Hermanas. Wow how things have changed. The Bishop in the Llerida Ward is the young boy I helped teach so long ago.

NEW BLOG

This blog covers the time of service of President and Hermana Hinckley, 2009-2012. President and Hermana Pace have a new blog for the mission. Check it out for the latest photographs and information!

The Spain Barcelona Mission

Welcome to the greatest mission in the world! This blog is designed to give families of missionaries, newly called missionaries, returned missionaries and others updates on what is happening in the mission.

You can read copies of our monthly mission newsletter, El Clarín (see links below). If you would like to be notified of new posts, click on "Join this Site" below. Useful information for newly called missionaries can be found by clicking on the additional pages in the menu above.

NEWS!

President Mark L. Pace has been called to preside over the Spain Barcelona Mission. He will serve with his wife, Sister Anne Marie Pace. President and Sister Pace currently live in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will begin their new assignment on 29 June 2012. ¡Bienvenidos a los Pace!

About the Mission

The Spain Barcelona Mission extends from Santander on the Bay of Biscay (on the Atlantic Ocean) to Valencia on the Mediterranean, and includes the islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. Major cities include Barcelona, Bilbao, Burgos, Santander, San Sebastian, Pamplona, Girona, Tarragona, Valencia, Zaragoza, and Palma de Mallorca. It also includes the principality of Andorra in the Pyrenees. About 14 million people live within the boundaries of the mission.

The mission includes three distinct languages and two additional dialects: Spanish, Catalan (and its derivatives, Valenciano and Mallorquin), and Basque. However, Church services and missionary work are all conducted in Spanish.

Missionaries serving in the Spain Barcelona Mission can expect to baptize regularly. It is possible to baptize weekly in this mission. Spain is entering a great "second harvest" (the first great harvest was in the 1970s), and missionary work here is more like South America than northern Europe.

The mission home is located atC/ Calatrava 10-12, bajos08017 Barcelona

PREACH MY GOSPEL

Current Time in Spain

Missionaries - Who they are, what they do

More on the Web

Spain Barcelona Missionaries as Art

This porcelain statue was created by the Lladró company in Valencia, using two Spain Barcelona missionaries as models (note they have briefcases rather than backpacks). It remains in the historical catalog and is item 01008273.

This photograph was displayed for several months in the Tarragona bus station: Elders Keller and Nasaeth

el faro

According to local legend, Elder F. Burton Howard, who was the president of the Europe West Area, toured the mission circa 2000 and referred to the mission as a lighthouse - el faro. The name stuck, and missionaries since then have referred to the mission as "el faro." See "Mission Vocabulary" above.